Meat curing composition



United States Patent F 2,942,989 MEAT CURING c'oMrosmoN Jerome A. Meuseland Ralph A. Brunn, Baltimore, Md., assignors to The Baltimore SpiceCompany, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland v No Drawing. FiledSept. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 840,512

' 7 Claims. (Cl. 99-222) This invention relates to meat curingcompositions. More particularly it relates to an improvement in drycompositions based on alkali metal nitrite salts as the active curingagent and to the stabilization of such com-.

positions. 1

Meat curing compositions conventionally consist of alkali metal nitriteas the principal active curing agent, together with alkali metal nitrateas a supplemental cure and one or more other ingredients such as sodiumchloride, sucrose, dextrose, lactose, or other similar materials.Compositions of this nature may be applied either in dry form, e.g. adry mixture of the several ingredients in powder form, or as a brineprepared by dissolving the composition in water.

Whichever method of use is employed, it is desirable that the potency ofthe composition be uniform from one batch to the next and that thecure'which is effected.

should be uniform and reproducible.

When dry compositions based on alkali metal nitrite as the principalcuring agent are stored for long intervals, or are exposed tohumidatmospheres and elevated tem-; peratures prior to actual use, it hasbeen found thatthe potency of the cure has been seriously diminished.-'1

While we do not wish to be bound by any specific theory, it is believedthat the deterioration of the curing composition results from thedecomposition of the nitrite in said composition with the ultimateconversionof the nitrite to nitrate, and that this decomposition isenhanced by the presence of oxygen or other oxidizing agents, in

an environment which also includes moisture in any form and that thedeterioration of the cure proceeds at an accelerated rate at highertemperatures such as those common in subtropical and tropical climates.

One object of the invention is therefore to provide meat curingcompositions which may be stored for extended periods of time and whichremain stable during such storage.

A second recognized disadvantage experienced'withdry between 500-800square meters 'per gram wasv particu-v lm ly effective in the practiceof the present invention against water present in the composition aswater of crystallization, or water present on the surface of theindividual particles at the time of application of the additive.Furthermore as will appear below, the resulting compositions do notretain their potency as meat cures and are not characterized by thedegree of stability required for use in tropical and subtropicalclimates.

Briefly in accordance with the present invention silica gel is added'tothe dry ingredients constituting the meat curing composition, wherebyany moisture present in the constituents is rapidly: absorbed into thepores of the gel and prevented from participating in the oxidation ofthe alkali metal nitrite. It has been found that silica gel in the formof particleshaving a particlesize of between 10 and 20 microns and anactive surface of'n'ot less than 500 square meters per gram andpreferably The amount of silica gel which is sufiicient to keepsimultaneously the nitrite from decomposing and the particles of the drycomposition from agglomerating, de-

. pends to some extent on the absorptive power of the silica I silicagel per 100 pounds of dry cure-andas-little as 4- compositionsformulated for the curing of meat is a tendterial action. Since theshipping of meat cures in solution is economically unattractive becauseof the large dead weight of Water, dry meat cures are preferred.

' One prior art approach to this problem has been the addition ofvarious additives to film the particles of a dry meat cure and toprevent the access of moisture to the particles, thereby preventingcaking and agglomeration. Unfortunately such, treatments are Whollyineffective gel used and the severity of the conditions, to which thecure is exposed prior to use.

The silica gel when mixed intimately with the crystals immediatelyabsorbs all the Water which is liberated possibly from water present aswater of crystallizationor whichreaches the dry cure in the formof-vapor from the surrounding atmosphere, thus preventing all processeswhich proceed only in the presence of water.

With respect to the decomposition of the sodium nitrite it has beennotedthat decomposition is not so much due to the presence of wateritself, but appears to be due to the presence of trace metal ions inthewater which act as a catalyst in the oxidation process. As the silicagel also absorbs such trace metals ions along with the water containingthem it suppresses this catalytic action.

The action of the silica gel on the nitrogen-containing alkali metalsalts is the same, Whatever the other-components of the curingcomposition. From this it may be deducted that the action of the silicagel is a direct protective action and is not produced indirectly by theaction on one of the other components of the; mixture.

We. prefer to add the silica gel at the rate of approxi matelyone-halfpercent by weight of the; entire mixture including not only thenitrogen-containing -metal salts but also the above named ingredients,but as will appear below, the benefits of the invention may be obtainedwith thefu'se smaller or larger amounts of silica'gel in the drycomposition. Because of the effectiveness of silica gel,

no advantage was found in adding more that 1 pound of ounces per 100pounds was also found to be reflective.- That is,.the mount of silicagel should comprise between and about 1% by weight of the composition.It will therefore be understood that the amount ofsilica gel used may bevaried according to the anticipated humidity and temperatures to whichit is likely to be exposed prior to use.

The:following data will serve to further'illustrate the presentinvention.

A basic cure was formulated by mixing the following ingredients as drypowders until a homogeneous mixture was obtained:

Sodium chloride Sodium nitrate I 4 Sodium'nitrite Portions of the abovemeat cure composition were ad mixed with stabilizing agents'and storedin opencard Patented June 28, 1 960 Pounds boardcontainers. At the endof twoweeks the compositions were visually examined with the followingresults:

' r Rate Physical Appear- Additive #1100)? ance Color Cure 1. PropyleneGlycol V 1 Lumpy, slightly Yellow.

. sticky. V V 2. '1 Lumpy, st1cky. Do. 3. Corn 1 .0 Do. 4. Tri-calclumphosphatm 1 Soft, Free Run- Yellow on I Ding. top. 5. Silica gel 1White. 6. Calcium Steal-ate. 1 Yellow on top.- 7. Darco 1 Dark Gray. 8.No Addition- 0. Firm"-.- Pale Yellow.- 9. Corn Syrup So1ids '2 Firm,unsuitable" Yellow on top. 10. Dextrose 2 Lumpy, a. Do.

1 Unsuitable became of color.

Tothe same basic cure composition, various amounts of silica gel wereadded and the resulting compositions, 7 after intimate admixingwere'stored under similar con-V ditions. When examined 10 and 17 dayslater, the following observations were madea Rate of Addition HardeningColor 1 1 oz. per 100# cure Surface Firm White 2 4 oz. per 10011 curFree R nning Do. 3 8 oz. per 10% eur do Do. 4 1 lb. per 100# cure Do. 55 lb. (replace salt) Do.

The above results may. besummarized as follows: The

"use of 300 to 325 mesh silica gel appeared to prevent decomposition ofthe sodium nitrite containing dry 'cure and to maintain the free-runningcharacteristics of the cure. With prolonged exposure to humid atmosphereone ounce 'per 100 pounds was not suflicient, but would be adequate indry or lesshumid environments.

Other tests were made withsilica gel having particle sizes between plusNo. screen and sub-micron size. Provided a sufiicient absorptive surfacearea was present "to prevent accumulation of moisture on the alkalimetal nitrite particles, the cures retained their stability and potencyand free running characteristics. v

The following table contains'four examples, I, II, III,

'IV, of curing compositions with different ingredients.

Various other compositions may be employed as cures including acomposition consisting only sodium nitrate, and silica gel.

Sodium Chloride (NaCl) Sucrose. l'lextrose. Lactose The process ofadding the silica gel consists merely in intimately mixing it with theother ingredients with any suitable mixing means. It will be noted thatthe silica gel is a neutral and non-toxic substance which in'no wayalfects adversely any human organ or tissue. In fact, silicic acid ispart of the human body and is thus what is called a physiologicalsubstance sothat its application in connection with article of food isconsidered as safe. f t f Its. introduction into the .curing compositionpermitsv the stabilization of the mixture during the shipping and'handling period aswell as during a storage period and is therefore ofconsiderablecommercial interest.

It will be clear that variations of the compositions dis-f of sodiumnitrite,

closed may readily be resorted to Without constituting a departure fromthe principles of the invention as defined by the annexed claims.

Thus in the examples above in the meat cures illustrated, sodium nitriteand sodium nitrate were used for convenience. The corresponding salts ofpotassium or other alkali metals could be substituted where lowsodiumproducts are desired for medical reasons, without departing from thescope of the present invention.

- This application is a continuation-in-part of our copendingapplication Serial No. 684,858, filed September v 19, 1957 nowabandoned. I a

We claim:

1. In a dry, granular meat curing composition containing alkali metalnitrite, the improved method of stabilizing the composition andpreventing the agglomeration ,of particles and the premature oxidationof the nitrite in the composition which consists in adding to thecomposition and mixing therewith silica gel particles, said of not lesstainingsodium nitrite, the improved method of stabilizing thecomposition and preventing the agglomeration of particles and thepremature oxidation of the sodium nitrite in the composition whichconsists in adding to the composition and mixing therewith approximately/2% by weight of the composition of silica gel particles, said mately/2% by weightof the composition of silica gel,

. taining alkali metal nitrite, the improved method of sta-' silica gelparticles having an active surface of 500-800 in! per gram. s

3. In a meat curing composition, containing sodium nitrite and sodiumnitrate, the improved method of stabilizing the composition and ofpreventing the agglomeration of particles and the premature oxidation ofthe sodium nitrite in the composition, which consists in adding to thecomposition and mixing therewith approxisaid silica gel being of aparticle size of Ill-20 microns and having an active surface of 500800m? per gram.

4. In a dry, granular meat curing composition con- 7, bilizingthecomposition and of preventing premature oxidation of the nitrite in thecomposition which consists in adding to the composition and mixingtherewith, particles of silica gel. a

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the silica gel comprises between aboutand about 1% 'by weightof the composition. I V V V 6. A dry granularmeat-curing compositionconsisting essentiallyof about 90 parts byweightofsodiurn chloride, '4 parts by weight'of sodium nitrateiand 6'parts by weight of sodium nitrite and containing between about A byweight and 1% by weight of silica gel particles, unifor'rnly'distributedthroughout the mixture to stabilize the mixture against prematureoxidation of the sodium I nitrite.

7. A dry granular meat-curing composition consisting essentially ofparticles of sodium chloride and alkali metal nitrate and nitrite, andcontaining between about and 1% by weight of the mixture of silica gelparticles uniformly distributed throughout the mixture to stabilize .themixture against premature oxidation of the alkali metal nitrite.

References Cited in the file of this patent 0 OTHER REFERENC SLaboratory Technique in Organic Chemistry, 1938 by A. D. Morton,published by McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc, New You, pp. 152 and 187. a

1. IN A DRY, GRANULAR MEAT CURING COMPOSITION CONTAINING ALKALI METALNITRITE, THE IMPROVED METHOD OF STABILIZING THE COMPOSITION ANDPREVENTING THE AGGLOMERATION OF PARTICLES AND THE PREMATURE OXIDATION OFTHE NITRITE IN THE COMPOSITION WHICH CONSISTS IN ADDING TO THECOMPOSITION AND MIXING THEREWITH SILICA GEL PARTICLES, SAID SILICA GELPRATICLES HAVING AN ACTIVE SURFACE OF NOT LESS THAN 500 SQUARE METERSPER GRAM.